Petunia plant named ‘USTUNI60-01M’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘USTUNI60-01M’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching and vigorous growth habit; numerous single flowers that are white in color with red purple-colored venation; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USTUNI60–01M’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USTUNI60–01M’.

The new Petunia plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of a Petunia×hybrida ‘USTUNI6001’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,730. The new Petunia was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single plant from within a population of plants of ‘USTUNI6001’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Carlton, Mich. on May 15, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Carlton, Mich. since May 15, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USTUNI60–01M’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USTUNI60–01M’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching and vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Numerous single flowers that are white in color with red         purple-colored venation.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the female parent, ‘USTUNI6001’ primarily in flower color as plants of ‘USTUNI6001’ have bright pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘Kakegawa’ S37, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,984. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of ‘Kakegawa S37’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Kakegawa S37’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Kakegawa S37’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Kakegawa S37’ had lavender         pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘USTUNI60–01M’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘USTUNI6001M’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif. under commercial practice during the summer and autumn in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 38° C. and night temperatures ranging from 13° C. to 24° C. Rooted young plants had been growing for ten weeks when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘USTUNI6001M’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Petunia×hybrida     ‘USTUNI6001’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,730. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 15 days at             20° C. to 22° C.         -   Time to develop roots, summer and winter.—About 20 days at             18° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; white, close to 155D, in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form/habit.—Annual flowering plant; indeterminate; upright,             outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous             growth habit. Freely branching habit with about six lateral             branches and numerous secondary and tertiary lateral             branches per plant. Pinching enhances development of lateral             branches.         -   Plant height.—About 24 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 49 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 46 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Internode length: About 1.7 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             Close to 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after             flowers develop; simple.         -   Length.—About 5.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146B; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close to 147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers; flowers             face mostly upward or outward; axillary. Freely flowering             habit, about 12 to 15 flower buds and open flowers per             lateral branch.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long             flowering period, early spring until frost in the autumn;             flowering continuous during this period. Plants begin             flowering about four to six weeks after planting rooted             cuttings.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to five days;             flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet, floral.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 4.6 cm. Depth (height): About             4.2 cm. Tube length: About 3.2 cm. Throat diameter, distal             end: About 1 cm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 3 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Columnar. Color: Towards the apex, close to NN155D;             towards the base, close to 145C.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About five petals fused in a             single whorl, funnelform. Length from throat: About 2 cm.             Width: About 2.1 cm. Shape: Roughly fan-shaped. Apex:             Broadly acute with a central rounded point. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower petal lobe surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube             texture: Pubescent. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to NN155D. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to N155D; venation, towards the throat, close to 58A;             venation, towards the apex, close to 145D. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to N155D; venation, close to 145A.             Flower throat (inside): Close to 145C; venation, towards the             petal lobes, close to 58A; towards the corolla base, close             to 145A. Flower tube (outside): Close to 145A; venation,             close to 146C.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals             fused at base, star-shaped calyx. Length: About 1.3 cm to             1.5 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Rounded.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.2 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Angle:             About 45° to 60° from the stem axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Anther shape: Oval. Anther size: About 2 mm by 2.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 198C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 188B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 2 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style             color: Close to 194C. Stigma shape: Oval to anvil-shaped.             Stigma color: Close to 194A. Ovary color: Close to 145A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and/or fruit production has not been             observed. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance. Plants of the new Petunia have been     noted to tolerate temperatures from about 0° C. to about 38° C. and     have excellent tolerance to rain and wind. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘USTUNI60–01M’ as illustrated and described. 